CPI-M congress to decide new gen secretary

Visakhapatnam: The CPI-M would deliberate on the present political situation and discuss strategy for strengthening the party at its 21st national conference to be held here from April 14.

The party's organisational elections will be held on the last day of the conference on April 19 when its new general secretary will be elected, as the term of the incumbent Prakash Karat is going to end, CPI-M politburo member B V Raghavulu told reporters.

When asked about any names proposed for the post, he said it will be known only after the elections. All politburo members and 900 delegates of the party from across the country would attend the six-day conference for which elaborate arrangements are being made, Raghavulu said.

The party has extended invitation to other left parties and CPI General Secretary Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy, Debabrata Biswas of All India Forward Block, Provash Ghosh of SUCI and Kavitha Krishnan of CPI (ML) Liberation would attend the inaugural function on April 14.

Admitting that of late the Left parties were losing public support, he said during the conference they will discuss revival of cultural wing of the CPI-M and how to attract youth towards the party. He said the CPI-M was striving hard to bring unity among the Left parties. However, dodging a direct reply on the talks of merger of the CPI-M and CPI, Raghavulu said that all the Left parties have unitedly worked for the cause and welfare of the people on several issues in the country.

Though the party had initially planned to postpone the conference in the city in view of the damage caused by cyclone Hudhud last year, but they decided to go ahead with the meeting due to the great support and cooperation extended by the local people, he said.

A huge rally will be taken out from RTC complex to R K beach where a public meeting will be held on the last day of the conference on April 19, he added.